Block Lotto

February Block

2012-02-01T01:00:00.000-06:00

Today is (blog) moving day.

For information about the February block, visit the new Block Lotto blog: Let's Play Hearts

Be sure to also check out the FQ bundle give away, sponsored by Julie D of The Intrepid Thread. (Yep, that's a carrot and I'm hoping you'll all follow us to blocklotto.com).

Status Updates

2012-01-31T22:26:00.002-06:00

I've heard from three of our four winners. SHELLEY, be sure to check for email from me and reply ASAP and confirm your mailing address and let me know how many of your own blocks you'd like to keep.

We will be moving to the new website and blog TOMORROW. The February block will be posted on the new blog. I also have a job interview tomorrow morning, so I may not be readily available to answer questions and resolve problems until the afternoon. Here are the three posts to help you get started:

Accounts and Author Privileges - If you didn't make blocks in January, you will need to request an account

First Things First - Setting a new password and updating your profile after your account is created

How to Post - A walk through the process of uploading photos and creating a blog post.

January 2012 Winners

2012-01-31T11:43:00.000-06:00

And the winners of the January Block Lotto are.....

#1: Linda N.
#2: Kathy S.
#3: Laura R.
#4: Shelley

Congratulations ladies! I can't wait to see how you put the blocks together!

Get Ready

2012-01-31T11:38:00.001-06:00

I've sent the list of names for the drawing to Ellie. We made a total of 178 blocks this month, so we'll have 4 winners: two will receive 45 blocks and the other two will receive 44 blocks. Good luck to everyone in the drawing.

If you made blocks this month, you should receive email today from WordPress with the username and (computer generated) password for your new author account. The first thing you'll want to do is set up your profile and change your password. I've tried to walk you through the process here:

First Things First - Setting up Your Account

2 Hour Warning

2012-01-31T09:06:00.002-06:00

The deadline for the drawing is in two hours, which will be Noon in NYC, 9 AM in Los Angeles, 3 PM in Portugal, 2 AM (Tomorrow) in Sydney, Australia,

6 for Deana

2012-01-31T08:51:00.001-06:00

The internet has been down so I had to run somewhere else this morn. I love these blocks!

2 eclipse entries

2012-01-30T21:04:00.003-06:00

The purple is a little brighter than the picture shows, so I hope this is okay. The curved technique came in handy on another project where there are dresden plate 1/4s being set in corner blocks, and the pattern didn't narrow them down enough at the corner so they need a little quarter circle. A bit tighter to sew in close quarters but it worked.
I'm blessed with a Pfaff quilt expressions 4.0, so the needle down option really helps to feed the fabric around the curves. I think it would have been more of a struggle on my old Kenmore.

Two Eclipse for Kristin

2012-01-30T17:26:00.001-06:00

Made time today to sew up the second eclipse I've had cut out all month. Adding that to the first one, and I've got a whopping two for the month.

Please donate my chances this month!

I've decided to make myself a Lotto Sampler using a layer cake I've been hoarding. Should be fun!

My January blocks...

2012-01-29T21:10:00.001-06:00

Laura Randolph
ljrandolph

eclipse

2012-01-29T18:11:00.001-06:00

Here are 3 more blocks for January.
Gwen

eclipse

2012-01-29T11:37:00.004-06:00

Copied and made my templates as soon as Sophie posted the information and then did nothing else until yesterday. With previous New York Beauty quilting experience, I was able to put together 12 blocks last evening. 9 for the lotto and 3 for my lotto scrap quilt , thanks again to Sophie and her great idea to keep all blocks the same size this year.
Really enjoyed making these and here they are.The other 3 are similar to the 2 greens and another mottled red.
Gwen

Eclipses for January

2012-01-29T03:47:00.000-06:00

I only made two this time. I am one of the few who doesn't cheer for this block.

eclipse

2012-01-28T12:51:00.001-06:00

Hello,

These are my nine blocks for the eclipse swap. Since I won the last swap I would like to donate the nine for this month.

Happy Sewing, Debra

Last year's string hearts

2012-01-28T09:46:00.001-06:00

While I did not win last year, I did at least have my 2 bonus hearts... they sat and sat, until this year, when I decided to make two more string hearts and their bonus hearts. Then, I laid them out, played with scrap pieces of black, and came up with this!
Which then sat on my ironing board for another 2 weeks until I finally quilted it last night- nothing fancy, just in the ditch around the hearts (well, mostly- I had taken my contacts out!). It now hangs in our kitchen. I have small wallhangings for almost the whole year now!

Transition Update and a Photo Challenge

2012-01-27T15:05:00.000-06:00

Unfortunately, during the last week or so, while I wasn't on top of the Block Lotto Blog, I ALSO wasn't working on our new site ...

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm still fighting with the template and the Home page format. I'm currently impatiently waiting for "support." I'd like to pull it together in the next few days, but I don't think it's going to happen. There has been a lot of "one step forward, two steps back;" I'm sure there will be more of the same; and, at the moment, I'm stuck ;-)

One of the view things that is sort-of working is a photo-slider feature on the home page, in which I'd like to feature photos of the quilts and other projects made from lotto blocks OR inspired by lotto blocks. At the moment it's having problems auto-magically resizing the images on posts imported from here. So, I was thinking that some of you might be interested in creating "beauty shots" of your beautiful quilts in the preferred dimensions:

960 pixels wide x 368 pixels tall

I know that a lot of our quilts have been gifted or donated. If that's the case, another option could be to crop one of your existing photos (or create a collage of photos) which is approximately 2 1/2 times as wide as it is tall. Otherwise, after I manually tweak your posts with photos so that they WILL be cropped/ re-sized automatically, we'll have no artistic input into HOW they will be changed to fit.

If you have the time and inclination to re-photograph a quilt or crop/collage exisitng photos to create something with the ideal proportions for the "slider," you can email them to me and I'll glue it all together ;-)

UPDATE

I cropped a couple photos to see if that slider would work as expected. (Andrew, I hope it's OK with you that I took some liberties with yours).

They are both close to the 1: 2.5 ratio. They look the same size here. but the detail photo of Andrew's quilt is actually much smaller than the ideal size of 960 pixels wide x 368 pixels tall. The other photo is slightly larger. If you click over to our future home page, and wait for them to "slide" by, you can see what happens. I also created a "beauty crop" of a detail of Julie's wonderful quilt made from the combination of string hearts and violet blocks and a couple of other recent "show and tell" posts.

IF you follow the home page link and go check out the current sad state of the construction project going on in our new home, PLEASE DO NOT attempt to post or add comments . . YET.

What are we talking about?

2012-01-27T12:54:00.000-06:00

I couldn't resist creating our own word cloud, after seeing this on a couple of YOUR blogs ;-)

Interesting, huh? You can play with your own words, shapes, fonts and other options at Taxedo.

My second eclipse

2012-01-27T08:32:00.000-06:00

I saw this fabric and decided that I had to make another block this month. The bright purple was just too pretty. My sewing machine broke (why do I have such bad luck) so this is it until it gets repaired. Hoping I can participate in February!

Helen W

Nashville, TN

One for January!

2012-01-27T01:41:00.000-06:00

I made two but one is wonky so I'm submitting just this one. I liked the Blue paisley and had to use it. I'm so glad to be back sewing it has been a long Month. For those who don't read my BLOG regularly-- I had my Tonsil's out in December. As an "older" person it was the worst pain I've ever had to go through. Not the surgery, but the recovery. It's been a very 5 weeks. Nothing tasted good and I was soooo Hungry, but couldn't swallow. Here's to a much better year!

Catching Up ... and the February Sneak Peek email

2012-01-26T15:09:00.001-06:00

If you have made and posted Eclipse blocks, you should have a (late) sneak peek email message from me about February's block. Your name and blocks should also appear in one of the lists in the left side bar, either blocks entered for the drawing or blocks "donated" to the pot.

I'm sorry for being an absent blog mom for the past week or so. I would appreciate if everyone who has made blocks would check to see that their name is on the appropriate list with the right number of blocks.

I'm so proud of everyone who faced their fear of curved seams and/or working with templates and tried the January block. Even if you have decided you still don't like curves, the next time WILL be easier.

For those that haven't (YET?) made the January block, but are curious about what might be in store next month, you could look through your stash for fabrics in these colors:

Pink
Orange
Gray
Cream

The inspiration for the colorway next month comes from Winter sunsets.

One Eclipse Block Done!

2012-01-26T14:27:00.001-06:00

Susan at desertsky.livejournal.com - my one block turned out easier to piece than I thought it would be! I'm donating the chance, please.

Eclipse 2012 photos

2012-01-24T13:28:00.001-06:00

Here are nine eclipse blocks for January. Good luck to everyone who has
made blocks this month.

Coralie in Canada

Five Eclipse Blocks from Kathy S. in Ohio

2012-01-24T06:23:00.000-06:00

Here are five more eclipse blocks for the January Block Lotto from Kathy S. in Ohio:

Four Eclipse Blocks for Kathy S. in Ohio

2012-01-23T15:27:00.001-06:00

Here are four eclipse blocks from Kathy S. in Ohio. I love these blocks. They are fun!

3-patch table topper

2012-01-22T21:44:00.002-06:00

I finished assembling about half of the three-patches I won last summer into this table topper, with the addition of the wine-based fabrics in the center. The backing is 3 colors of grape bunches. My long-arm quilter did a nice job of quilting with vine and grape motifs in the blocks. This will go out to my friend who is a wine fancier, I hope this week; just need to add a label.

2012-01-22T20:31:00.002-06:00

Here are 8 blocks from me for this month. Sophie, I'd like to donate these blocks. The hardest part for me was cutting out all the parts by hand since I don't have a small rotary cutter.

One eclipse for me

2012-01-22T19:53:00.002-06:00

One eclipse from Kasey P. It took forever for me to find fabric that I liked for this one, but digging through my stash is almost always half the fun!

Final scrappy trip blocks

2012-01-21T07:43:00.000-06:00

Thanks Gwen, your blocks arrived today, so now I can get on with arranging them all. Thank you everyone!

6 Total Eclipse Blocks for rho

2012-01-21T00:30:00.002-06:00

I made 4 more tonight + the 2 posted yesterday = 6 total blocks for January............................. so far...

sharing a deal...

2012-01-20T20:33:00.001-06:00

I picked up an omnigrid 9.5" square ruler today originally priced $13.99. It was on sale so I only paid $8.49. Not sure how long the sale lasts, but I thought I'd share my deal incase anyone was thinking about getting one to make this years blocks a little easier.

Laura E.

January 2012 blocks - Eclipse

2012-01-20T20:23:00.000-06:00

OMGoodness! another circular block Arrrghh!

But ............... In Sophie We Trust ;-) so I gave it a go.

I had some 'issues' LOL with this block - if you are interested, see my post on my blog for full details.

I think I have produced two acceptable blocks - even these I am not completely confident about ;-(

Sophie, these blocks will be donated - if you deem them acceptable ;-)

Michelle 5 eclipse blocks...

2012-01-20T09:21:00.000-06:00

...for now. I still hope to get more done, but things are interesting around here so they may not happen. I wanted to be sure to be in time for the sneak peek.

Debbie's 3 Eclipses

2012-01-20T05:29:00.003-06:00

Debbie M

rho's Eclipses for Jan '12

2012-01-20T01:12:00.005-06:00

These were fun to make. It's a busy month for me, so this may be all that I'll have a chance to make this month. (rho)

Eclipse - Donate

2012-01-18T08:27:00.001-06:00

Sophie - I made one block for the month, posted last week, but forgot to tell you that I would like to donate it. Terri

My Liberated Garden

2012-01-17T07:37:00.002-06:00

These are photos of the completed quilt that I made with last january's liberated stacks (or a portion of them). Because of their bright colors and some floral elements, they struck me as being a garden path, so I used some Kaffe Fassett and other large florals to make snowballs, and then surrounded the whole thing with some Michael Miller fern fabric. The very nice quilting was done by Maria Davis. Thank you fellow Block Lotto participants for the beautiful blocks. The backing is K Fassett Millefiori, which means thousand flowers (the Venetian glass technique). I love this fabric. Our local guild show this year has a them of "quilts in bloom" so I am taking the liberty of entering the quilt in the group category; I don't expect any ribbons, but our show chair encouraged the entry of some easier quilts and I think it's good to show off some liberated quilting too.

I'm keeping this one!

6 more...

2012-01-16T15:59:00.000-06:00

This will put my total at 7. I actually made 8, but trimmed one too small.

The lights look white, but they really do have color.

While sewing these up, I had an idea.

What if I take the scraps and use them??

This is what I came up with. I was going to have a circle in the middle and at the last minute changed it so they were all half circles. It is raw edge applique and I really should have spent more time sewing the arcs down. They are a little hairy on the edges. tsk tsk

Inspired Eclipse

2012-01-16T13:16:00.000-06:00

I played with this month's block and pieced the arc.

I made a doll blanket for my niece.

You can read more at my blog - here.

- Kristin

partial eclipse

2012-01-15T18:48:00.000-06:00

I've only made two blocks so far -- fun & easy!

Julie Wa.

9 Eclipse Blocks

2012-01-15T01:15:00.000-06:00

Here are my final nine eclipse blocks. I have taken one of my original blocks out as I didn't think it was bright enough. I will keep it to go towards the sampler quilt. I hope these blocks are Ok.

Jan Eclipse blocks

2012-01-14T14:46:00.000-06:00

Here are my 8 blocks for the month of Jan. Quite easy to do. Maybe that apple core quilt won't be too far in my future :)

Thanks Sophie for all you do.

Shelley

Eclipse

2012-01-14T14:08:00.000-06:00

Terry in California, I have 5 for this months Lotto. They are much more vibrant than this pix.

These turned out better!

2012-01-13T18:17:00.000-06:00

I tried again, starting with a larger square and trimming the outer edge square These turned out nicely and it's getting easier to stitch that curve with practice. Awaiting judgement on the fabric of one of these...not sure if those leaves read one color well enough. The red paisley is the fabric I used to sash one of my Scrappy Trips quilts.

eclipse block #1?

2012-01-13T16:33:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I finally made my templates (Thanks Sophie!). Today I started looking for fabrics and I have cut and sewn my first Eclipse block...maybe. It came out a bit skewed as you can see in the picture with the ruler on top of the block. I'm open for input into as to what may have caused this and how to get better results. Would it work to start with a 10" square of bright fabric and trim the outer edge only as that is where the problem seems to be to a nice square 9.5" after sewing? the seams for the arc seem to be place the same distance from the corner on both edges. If this block is too far off in size, I certainly do not want to enter it into the count.

Eclipse from El Paso, Texas

2012-01-11T18:35:00.000-06:00

Here are 4 Eclipse blocks for me this month (fingers crossed that my colors are acceptable).

Eclipse Block from Christa in VA

2012-01-11T15:07:00.000-06:00

Finally I have one block made. The cutting and sewing was a lot of fun and much easier then I thought. I am so happy I was "forced" to try this. Without Block Lotto I would have never attempted it. Thanks!
Deciding on the fabric was the difficult part but I think I managed to get it right. The colors in the photo are not quite true. The blue is vivid with a turquoise tint. I love it. I made a second exactly like it to save for my sampler.

6 Eclipse from Pat K

2012-01-10T19:12:00.001-06:00

The picture is a little off as the colors are more bright than the photo
shows. I hope the blue ring is ok....PK

Eight eclipses from Laurina

2012-01-10T03:29:00.000-06:00

Here are my 8 blocks for January. I agree with one of the other posts - making the templates was the hardest part. My own problems were caused by an overly-helpful printer who thought it best to resize the images to fit onto my A4 paper (international sizing - similar, but not the same as US letter paper). I'm sure I told it not to, twice.But, I admit that the end result was worth the trouble.

9 from Kate

2012-01-09T17:03:00.002-06:00

Here are nine from me for January. These were fun, though I did have trouble trying to find "light" fabric in my stash. Who'd have suspected I had a light fabric shortage??

Eclipse Photo

2012-01-09T11:58:00.000-06:00

Here is my one block for the month. Although curves are not my favorite thing to do, this block went together very easily!

Terri Coty

IMPORTANT Reminders

2012-01-09T10:42:00.001-06:00

I've got three quick (but IMPORTANT) notes.

I still don't know WHO made and posted (via email) these blocks. Even though you are donating them and won't be in the drawing, I HAVE to know who you are so that you can receive the sneak peek email (with February block info) AND the mailing information so you'll know where to send them. Remember, when you post via email, you MUST include some indication of who you are IN THE MESSAGE.
When you PRINT the templates (originals or the already enlarged ones) be SURE that you have NOT selected the option to "FIT TO PAGE" ... or your blocks will have TOO SMALL arches in the wrong place and won't work well in a quilt with the rest.
The FABRIC GUIDELINES say that the large square of fabric must be BRIGHT/BOLD. It doesn't say dark. I know that photos sometimes don't convey true colors, so I must rely on your HONESTY about making blocks that follow the color guidelines. After reading Béa's blog (in French) where she used the French word vif, I thought of another good word to describe what we want: VIVID.

If your large square of fabric isn't really BRIGHT, BOLD, VIVID, then we should take it OFF THE LIST. Let me know if I need to adjust your number of blocks on the list. Whether your blocks are in the drawing or "donated" to the pot of extras, They MUST follow the guidelines.

I really don't want to be the Quilt Policeman. It's really not in my nature and the time it would take would push me past the limit of time I am willing to spend. PLEASE DON'T MAKE IT NECESSARY FOR ME TO DO SO. I want the winners to receive a set of blocks that will play together nicely. And if you win the blocks (this month or any month), I'll bet you'd like that, too.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE RULES. Please do not put me in the position of having to ask you to leave the group because you can't follow the rules. I've never done that and I do NOT want to start now.

Trip blocks received

2012-01-09T10:31:00.000-06:00

Last two packs of 'trip' blocks received today from Mary Jane and Corinne. Thanks ladies they are lovely and now I have all my blocks the work starts to put them into a quilt. Decisions, decisions! Thanks again to everyone who posted me blocks. Jo in Oman.

Eclipse

2012-01-09T07:00:00.001-06:00

One block from AnaM. Don´t know if i will make more, but this one is done.

--

Trabalhos Meus

Trabalhos Meus II

by AnaM

eclipse

2012-01-09T03:13:00.000-06:00

Finally here are four eclipse blocks for this month, I will donate these as I was lucky enough to win twice last year. Once I had read the instructions properly after the first four I made (wrong size) I found them really quick and easy and quite enjoyed the making up.

One Block for January (so far...)

2012-01-08T21:26:00.001-06:00

Here is one block for January from a newbie; I hope to do more now that I've overcome my fear of curves! Sorry about the picture quality, the purple polka-dotted fabric is kind of washed out due to flash.

Lauren in Durham, NC

4 more eclipses

2012-01-08T15:39:00.001-06:00

Another 4 for a total of 7 for me. I made a duplicate of the blue/pink for myself to use in my sampler quilt at the end of the year. :)

Laura E.

Eclipse

2012-01-08T15:18:00.000-06:00

Here are my six for January 2012

Jan 2012 - 2 blocks by JuneD

2012-01-08T14:50:00.000-06:00

I will try to make at least a few more of these nice blocks!

Real easy for me as I have a 9.5 inch square ruler - and I found a piece of cardboard to make the templates with!

Thanks to Sophie for finding the block, and to Kristin for helping with making the templates easy to print!

I had posted the first completed block last night, but since there were no comments I am changing the photo and time stamp of the entry to show the two blocks completed.

African Violet Aug 2011 block

2012-01-08T11:46:00.001-06:00

I was one of the lucky winners. My African top is finnished. Then I have to wait and see when the rest of the job is done.

Eclipse from France

2012-01-08T05:50:00.000-06:00

3 blocks for me this month, sorry for the bad photo :(

Béatrice

http://www.uneaiguilledansunebottedefoin.blogspot.com/

3 more eclipses

2012-01-07T00:54:00.000-06:00

Eclipse Block from Helen

2012-01-06T22:30:00.000-06:00

Green is my favorite color and this fabric looked like lots of fun. Sewing the curves wasn't as hard as I thought it would be so I decided to make a block for myself of each month so that I could sew together the blocks at the end of the year. I thought Sophie's quilt looked fantastic and I hope I can find the time to make a fun quilt out of this years blocks.

Between teaching, a teething 20 mos son and finishing a quilt for my mother-in-law, this may be the only block that I submit to the lotto in January. Here is hoping for more time to make more blocks.

Helen W.

Nashville, TN

Eclipse blocks to donate from Janet H

2012-01-06T16:15:00.001-06:00

When I attempted to edit this post and add Janet's name to the title, somehow everything else was deleted. (I'd like the blame it on the iPad, but it was probably "user error." Here is the picture of her blocks. She's donating her chances.

Eclipse

2012-01-05T11:28:00.001-06:00

I was leary when I seen the block for this month, beyond frustrated yesterday with my first attempts, and so excited today when I finally mastered it!

3 for me so far, I have another one done but for some reason my photos are not wanting to upload today. Thanks for the challenge this month sophie!

Laura E.

one for now...

2012-01-04T20:43:00.000-06:00

I did a test drive with the block. It took longer to make the templates than it did to sew this up. I want to make more. The month is still young. I should be able to add to my count before the end of January. Julie P

What I did this week

2012-01-04T16:38:00.002-06:00

Our church has an annual Advent friends program where we get another family as our secret Advent friends and give them a gift each week of Advent and then a final gift at a wrap up party on Epiphany ( this year January 8). As I was trying to decide what to do for that final gift my scrappy trips lotto winnings were calling to me from the design wall. Our friends are a mother and her 5 year old daughter, so I thought decided mother daughter quilts would be good. I sorted blocks and came up with arrangements I liked and then started prepping blocks for sewing together. I discovered size discrepancies of as much as 1/2 inch and so I decided to just trim all the blocks down to the smallest size and add sashings so I wouldn't need to try to match seams. The tops are now done and I will begin quilting tonight. I still have a few blocks left which will be used in donation quilts.

Pre-Washing Tips

2012-01-04T14:56:00.000-06:00

I wrote a post on my blog detailing how I prewash small pieces of fabric, I thought others might find it helpful.
Pre-Washing Fabric

(Sophie, please feel free to remove this post if you feel it isn't Lotto related, or add labels.)

- Kristin

Trip blocks received

2012-01-04T09:41:00.000-06:00

Blocks from Andrew, Laura (Bone Gap), Linda and Pat H arrived in sunny Oman today. They're all beautiful and I thank you for them along with the cards and notes sent with them. Only two more parcels to go and I can get started! I am a very lucky person. Jo

Eclipse Q & A

2012-01-04T08:21:00.002-06:00

A few quilters have emailed me with questions about the guidelines/directions ... and other things I've "said" about this block. If one person is asking, I know there are others wondering, so I thought to share the Q & A with everyone here. If you have questions, you can add a comment here to extend the discussion or, as always, email me.

Q - What is a "light" fabric?
A - The designers of the eclipse pattern note that it's a great project for experimenting with color and value and say that by controlling the proportion of lights to mediums and darks in a quilt, you can make your quilt more luminous. That luminous quality is what we're going for in our blocks. Of course, light, medium and dark are relative terms. If your "light" fabric is unmistakably LIGHTER than your bright/bold fabric, then you're good. Your "light" fabric might even have some darker design elements and still be "light." Think about the shirting fabrics used in Civil War Reproduction quilts--they are often cream with black or dark blue/green/red pattern, but they would definitely be considered as "lights" in most quilt projects.

Q - I am having a problem ending up with the right size. Can I start with a larger square?
A - As Julie noticed right away, the pattern (and templates) we are using are for a larger block. Because all three templates are used with one of the corners (and the two adjacent sides) as reference, you can start with a different sized square--the block should end up being the same size as the square you use to begin. So, you CAN start with a larger square, if, when you square up, you DO NOT TRIM the two adjacent sides to that reference corner. Here's what I mean:

If I had started with a 10 inch square to make this block and wanted to trim it to size, then I would trim from the top and right sides ONLY--that's what I meant by trimming OUTSIDE the curve.

Q - Speaking of trimming blocks to size, why don't we sent UNTRIMMED blocks and let the winners square them up as they need?
A - While it wouldn't always make a difference, the reason we send blocks that have been squared up to the required size is so that the block maker will know if they've made a too large block that cannot be squared up without chopping off part of the block pattern (like star points). If you make your first block--and I always recommend you make ONE block before jumping into cutting and sewing more--square it up and find you've chopped off corners (or so much of the seam allowance that corners or points will be "hidden" in the seams when the block is sewn into a top, then you can figure out what you need to change before you make the rest of your blocks--whether it's for the Block Lotto or your own projects.

FYI, ALL of our blocks in 2012 will be 9 1/2 inch blocks (to finish at 9 inches in the winner's projects). If you are thinking of adding a ruler to your quilter's tool box, you might consider a 9 1/2 square ... to make that squaring up accurate and easy all year round.

While I have your attention . . . I decided on keeping the blocks the same size to make it easy for anyone who wanted to play along with me and make a sampler from this year's blocks–whether they make blocks for the lotto or not. Then you all made that incredible lotto block sampler for me (and resized all the past lotto blocks you made to be the same size) . . . so it feels a little odd for me to push anyone to make ANOTHER sampler--but, of course, this one would be for you. I'll have more to post about sampler ideas and layouts later, but if you are looking for a 2012 project and want to play along, you might start thinking about a colorway for yourself.

Ellipse Block Lotto entries

2012-01-03T00:07:00.000-06:00

Hello all.......I am adding 4 entries to the Block Lotto. I used the same fabric for all the arcs even though it doesn't look like it. It has that many different shades, believe it or not! I found the pattern instructions easy to follow and I used the templates that Kristen provided....Thanks again, Kristen!

Ida (mysismademe.blogspot.com)

Notes on the Block Lotto Transition

2012-01-02T14:14:00.001-06:00

For those who are interested, I'll post updated on our transition to a new home and label them with "transition" (which I've added to the other labels in the right sidebar).

It's going to take some time. I have imported our more than 7,000 blog posts from here ... but then realized to keep the author's names on them, I had to create accounts for everyone who has posted (hence the email some of you have received and the rest will probably receive this week). Then I have to change the author on all those posts ... sound like fun?

I've done nothing yet in terms of design, so if you followed the link (and I know some of you have) you've seen a very ugly page. My advice is DON'T LOOK yet ... and definitely DO NOT start commenting or posting until we officially launch.

Anything you post here will be imported and nothing will be lost, so let's PLEASE keep it all on this blog until we're ready to move.

Three Eclipses

2012-01-01T23:38:00.000-06:00

These blocks are not as hard as they look. Thanks to Kristin for producing templates we could print directly.

Eclipse Block from Kristin

2012-01-01T21:27:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year!

I played with the pattern and built one block. I fear curves and templates as if they were huge spiders - Like that one in Harry Potter....but, I like this block. After a few deep breaths and reading the instructions a few times, I did it. And you know what? I liked it!!

If I could pass along a few tips - pay attention to the directions. I'm not one to follow sewing instructions, but it did make a huge difference. Especially the clipping and pressing directions.

Starch helped too.

Also, be careful if you need to square up your block. If you trim the wrong edge, I don't think the curves will line up, they'll be slightly off when the winners assemble the top.

I took a picture of the back of the block, so you can see how neat and clean it looks. :)

I'll be making more of these!

October Block Quilt

2012-01-01T16:07:00.000-06:00

Here is my top of wonderful blocks from October! I just love them all. Haven't decided on a border so if anyone has a suggestion, please say it! Thank you one and all!

I plan on gifting this to my cousins. We stayed in our RV at their farm for over a month this fall to prepare and recooperate our daughters wedding! We had such a wonderful time and they wouldn't accept anything to repay for electricity etc. I found out I won the Lotto and she was so excited to see the blocks and loved them so. This will be such a wonderful surprise for them all! And a special thank you to each and every one of you. It has inspired me to start a Dear Jane type quilt and stretching myself with learning new techniques on each block.

Janet H now in AZ

Printable Templates

2012-01-01T12:55:00.001-06:00

Kristin enlarged and re-arranged the Eclipse templates so that they are printable on "Letter" (8 1/2 by 11 inches in the US) paper--one template per page--and ready to use.

Thanks, Kristin!

You can download them using these links:

Template A
Template B
Template C

As Julie pointed out, these templates are used in the Eclipse quilt pattern to make larger blocks, but, because of how you use them, you can use the same templates and start with a smaller square. The arcs (which become circles when four blocks are sewn together will be the same size, but, in our 9 inch (finished size) blocks, there will be less fabric around the outside of the block than those in the Eclipse quilt pattern.

As I was making the blocks, I thought about using them with some 10" fabric squares that I have from a swap (with dog themes) to make a kids quilt. It would add some interest without completely chopping up the novelty fabrics.

Another Challenge is coming ...

2011-12-31T13:27:00.001-06:00

I will be moving the Block Lotto blog to a new home in 2012. I know that change is hard for almost all of us (me included), but I think it will be a positive change and worth it ... for all of us.

It won't happen right away, so continue to post here. It's going to take some time and effort, because:

I want to bring all we have here with us here.
It will take some time and effort for me to explore and learn a whole new bumch of templates, gadgets and plugs
I want to get things close to "right" as I can before we move to make the change as easy for all of us as possible when we make the leap.

In the meantime, as part of moving all your posts, in order to keep all the authors on those posts, If you have ever posted here, I will be setting you up as a contributor or an author in the new environment. Because our new home doesn't have the same restrictions that we keep bumping into here and everyone should be able to become an author. If you have been posting via email and would like to continue to do so, you will be able to do that, too.

I plan to use the same name as you have used on Blogger. If you would like to a DIFFERENT user name, please let me know. Because it only has to be unique in our area, especially if you have a common name, you may have more options on our new Block Lotto site.

Why the Rules Matter

2011-12-31T11:10:00.001-06:00

Andrews recent experience with his red and white blocks, my own experience of working with some (not from the lotto) swap blocks in making my Christmas quilt and a couple of emails from recent winners have reminded me to remind you of a couple of rules and explain why they matter.

PRE-WASH ALL FABRICS YOU USE FOR LOTTO BLOCKS I know many quilters trust in the quality of the fabrics they buy and don't pre-wash for their own quilt projects. I will confess that for my first few years as a quilter, I didn't either. Unfortunately, sometimes, even name brand, pricey fabrics will RUN. If you don't put them through the wash, how will you know? I speak from recent personal experience when I say it's heart-breaking when fabrics from even one block RUN . . . and can ruin an otherwise wonderful quilt.
MEASURE YOUR BLOCKS The Block Lotto is a newbie-friendly activity and there is a bit of wiggle room, but your blocks should be within 1/4 inch of the specified block size. In 2012, all of our blocks will be 9 1/2 inches (to finish at 9 inches when sewn into a quilt) which means your blocks must measure between 9 1/4 inch and 9 3/4 inch -- no more, no less. If you send a too small block, you make it IMPOSSIBLE for the winner who receives it to use in a straight setting (no sashing). Cutting down every other block to match yours is often NOT possible because of the block pattern) If your block is too large, cutting it down to fit may mean cutting off points or otherwise creating a block that will look different than the rest.
CHECK YOUR SEAMS Regardless of the pattern or technique you use, all your seams should be very close to 1/4 inch. In my Christmas quilt, I didn't re-check the seams of the blocks I received in a block swap and truly regretted it when, as I was quilting the last round of blocks around the outside edge and noticed that a seam in the last block had pulled out because someone had sent me a block with a half-square triangle that had almost NO seam allowance. I had already quilted around three sides of the block, so fixing it was no treat. Unfortunately I know that some lotto blocks have been sent with seams like this, too. Consider what's going to happen when a block like that is sewn into a quilt, perhaps stretched into a quilting frame (or stretched by a quilter like me who is shoving a big quilt through and around a small home sewing machine) ... and, if it survives the quilting, will be going through washer and dryer many times in it's lifetime. Check your seams and don't send a block that will not last.
FOLLOW THE BLOCK GUIDELINES I usually try to push the guidelines in the blocks I make for the lotto and create those "edge case" blocks to see if they will work. As quilters, many (most) of us don't always color within the lines, but for the Block Lotto, it's important that you stay within the guidelines for fabric, color and block pattern. I like the way my Christmas quilt came out, but ... it was SUPPOSED to be a sampler. Swappers signed up to make specific blocks and then about half of them sent something else. So when I received my blocks, about half of them were the easiest block on the list and the rest were a selection of others. As a sampler, it didn't work. As a non-sampler, it didn't work. I ended up taking apart and remaking half the blocks so I ended up with two block patterns. I think it is successful now, but as a swap experience, it was a complete fail--do you suppose that's why I haven't participated in a block swap since?

The winners are almost always thrilled with the blocks they receive, but rule-breaking blocks really do tarnish the glow. Let's all resolve to only enter good (and rule-abiding) lotto blocks in 2012 ... and beyond.

Red and White

2011-12-30T20:58:00.000-06:00

Here is my finished red and white quilt! I copied the layout from a post by Prayerful Threads.

I'm really pleased with how my black and white binding turned out.

A word of warning to anyone who won the red and white D4P blocks and hasn't yet washed them... they bleed! I know Sophie has warned us before to at least throw a color catcher in the wash with the quilt the first time you wash it, but did I listen? NOOOOOO! I didn't listen. Am I sorry? YESSSS! I did some reading online and discovered that Dawn Ultra Dish Washing Liquid does a pretty good job of trapping dye. So I applied Dawn directly to the spots that bled and washed the quilt multiple times. (Just be sure you don't use more than about 3 tablespoons in a load or you'll have a lot of suds.) I did eventually get most of the red out.

Now that it is finished I'm going to give it to my partner's mom for Christmas. Luckily we weren't doing Christmas with his family until next week, or I wouldn't have had the binding finished in time. Hope she likes it! -Andrew

Trips received

2011-12-30T12:11:00.001-06:00

Corrine, your blocks arrived earlier this week, I just forgot to post about it. Thanks so much!

Better Photos of your wonderful gift

2011-12-30T11:09:00.001-06:00

I will come back later and add information about all the blocks and who made them (thanks to the wonderful list that was enclosed with the quilt), but here is the quilt, on my design wall:

The photos still aren't perfectly square--though the quilt DEFINITELY IS--but you can see how all the wonderful blocks look together.

More Squishies

2011-12-30T10:14:00.000-06:00

Thank you to Andra, Kim, Krista, Shannan and Vicki - your blocks have all arrived safely. I cant believe there are so many yummy fabrics that I have never seen!

I am making myself get rid of a few UFOs while I wait for Gwen's package, and then I will allow myself to play with these lovely blocks. Thank you to all, and I wish everyone on BL a very happy New Year

Benta
www.SLIKstitches.com

Are you ready for a (little) Challenge

2011-12-29T23:27:00.001-06:00

This is a slightly modified version of a block I found on the funquilts.com site, called Eclipse which will be our January 2012 lotto block. We're changing the directions to make a smaller block (9 1/2 inches, to finish in the quilt at 9 inches).

The two challenges you may find in this block are working with templates and sewing curves.

You can download the directions for the Eclipse quilt from the free patterns at the bottom of this page: FunQuilts Patterns & Kits

You'll also be able to see their setting and just how cool these blocks will look together ;-)

IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR OUR LOTTO BLOCKS:

IN STEP 1. OF THE CUTTING DIRECTIONS, CUT THE LARGE SQUARE 9 1/2 inches (instead of 11 1/14 inches)

This is a free pattern with materials and cutting directions for making a quilt. For each block you'll need 2 squares of fabric, approximately 10"square of bright background and an 8" square of light for the arc.

NOTE: The templates on the bottom half of page 2 must be printed (or enlarged) at 200%. I took mine to a copy shop because my printer at home doesn't print on "tabloid" sized paper (11 x 17 inches in the US).

UPDATE: Kristin enlarged and re-arranged the Eclipse templates so that they are printable on "Letter" (8 1/2 by 11 inches in the US) paper--one template per page--and ready to use.You can download them using these links:

Template A
Template B
Template C

FABRICS

The colorway for January is BRIGHT + LIGHT.

The background should be bright, bold fabrics.

The arc should be a fabric with a LIGHT value. Please NO whites or creams. Your light fabric should have some color.

They may be solids, tone-on-tone prints or multicolor prints that are predominately ONE color. Please do NOT use "made" fabrics (sewn from small pieces) for the lotto block this month. Your bright + light fabrics do not have to be the same color. They can be light and dark values of the same color or interesting fabric combinations.

MULTIPLE BLOCKS

You may make a maximum of 9 blocks. If you make multiple blocks, you may use the same fabric in up to three blocks, as long as the fabric combination (bright + light) is unique in each block. So, you could make the maximum 9 blocks from as few as 3 brights plus 3 lights, combining each bright with each light for 9 unique fabric combinations.

BLOG POSTING AND LABELS

Let's wait until January 1, 2012 to post photos of our Eclipse blocks. When you post, please use these labels for your posts:

eclipse - for block photos and discussion related to the block
eclipse-sent - for posts about mailing your blocks
eclipse-received - for posts from the winners about receiving your blocks

CREATING A VIRTUAL QUILT

I will have set up a group on Flickr called Eclipse Lotto Blocks and will post directions on how to join, upload and crop photos and add them to the group sometime this weekend.

Here are my first four blocks on the design wall:

NOTES ON WORKING WITH TEMPLATES AND CURVES

While the FunQuilts directions are very good, I wanted to add a couple of notes of my own. I like templates to have a little bit more substance and there are a few ways to do that. To make really long-lasting templates, you can trace them onto template plastic. You can print or copy them onto card stock, or take the printed copy and glue it to card stock or lightweight cardboard. Cereal boxes or other package materials work pretty well. Guess who had a tamale craving and bought packaged tamales recently?

Of course, I will be using them like this:

For this set of templates it doesn't matter if you use them right side up or not because they are symmetrical, but it's good to practice always using them right side up . . . because in the future you might be using templates that all need to be right side up to work together.

You might find it easier to follow along the edges of these curves (without cutting your templates) by using a rotary cutter with a smaller blade. If you have one of these, this is a good project to use them:

You could even use the template to draw the curved lines with a colored pencil or marking pen and CUT it with scissors ... believe it or not, quilts used to be made just like that--using cereal box templates and scissors :-)

When sewing the curves, you may find that you don't like all the pins suggested by the directions. If you cut precisely using the templates, every will match up. Personally, I carefully lined up the beginning and end and used one pin at the center of the curve and that worked for me. Your mileage may differ ...

O! M! G!

2011-12-29T17:21:00.002-06:00

You all are pretty great at keeping secrets.

I will sit down and read all the cards and notes after I post this (and I promise better photos soon, too), but I had to let you know that your wonderful gift arrived.

I had no idea what could be waiting for me at the post office. The clerk suggested I had a "secret admirer". If ONLY he knew what was inside the box.

The cats are VERY excited about the new quilt, too. Johnny was ready to jump in the box with it before it was unpacked and here they are checking out the other side. For some reason, there was one spot they both found VERY interesting ;-)

Soon afterward, they were playing some kind of kitty version of "king of the mountain" and fighting over it.

NO ONE has ever made a quilt for me. I can't tell you how much it means. With my chemical sensitivity issues flaring up and losing my job, it has been a tough holiday for me. You ALL have created a beautiful, happy ending to 2011 for me. Thank you.

a combination of blocks...

2011-12-28T06:12:00.000-06:00

The hearts were won in February, the flowers are made from the violet flower block last summer. I love the way they work together.

I have more hearts! I am making a sister quilt like this one, only a little different.

I am really looking forward to a January block. Julie P.

trips-received

2011-12-27T09:36:00.001-06:00

Hello Everyone. Sorry I did not post earlier but got busy with Christmas. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas. I have received all of the foreign blocks from Celine, Kate N, Laurina and Vivi. I am still waiting on the 3 blocks from Andrew. I have made 6 more to make my quilt 6 across and 7 down. Hope to have a picture of it to show soon.

Thanks to everyone and happy sewing. Debra

Trip blocks received

2011-12-25T00:05:00.000-06:00

Blocks received yesterday, 24th Dec, from Wendi (Winola) Irons in Galt, CA. Thank you very much, lovely colours! Took 22 days to get here but so worth the wait!!!! Thanks again. Very best wishes for Christmas and all the best for 2012 to all Block Lotto-ers and their families.
Jo in Oman

IT'S HERE....IT'S HERE !!!!!!

2011-12-24T16:59:00.004-06:00

Thanks soooo much GWEN!!!!! Your little package just arrived, all safe and sound! I now have all of my blocks and I will have fun opening all of my block lotto winnings in the morning! I'm excited and can't wait!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY LOTTO BUDDIES!!!!!

-belinda

browndirtcottage.com

Inspiration

2011-12-24T13:45:00.001-06:00

I fell in love with the Violet Blocks in August, so when my daughter asked for a flower quilt, I was eager to get started! Now that I have finished some high priority projects, I am having fun with violets again.

I decided to use 3 sizes: 12 inch, 8 inch and 4 inch. Kendra helped pick out a variety of fabrics. I have the large ones done, and below are the tiny pieces for the small ones.

Merry Christmas!
Andi in Arizona

Blocks received and Merry Christmas to All!

2011-12-24T11:14:00.000-06:00

My blocks from Linda arrived yesterday. That makes 34 blocks safely here and then the ones from Angela whenever life lets up and gives her room to breathe. I'm still praying for Angela's dear daughter. And wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Cyndi has all blocksI

2011-12-22T09:08:00.000-06:00

We came home from our Arizona-New Mexico journey a little early - it's unseasonably cold so we decided we'd rather be comfy in our home instead of our RV. We picked up the mail, and ALL the scrappy trips that were on their way to me have arrived. I'm looking forward to playing with layouts and sewing them together. It'll be fun!

Belinda Has Received Blocks

2011-12-20T20:09:00.002-06:00

I have received my squishie package from TERRY in California! I still haven't opened any of them yet. I am saving them for Christmas. I'm kind of afraid I might not have anything to open Christmas morning! HA!!

The only ones I am waiting for are from Gwen in Novia Scotia, I know she mailed them on the 6th of Dec. They just haven't made it here yet, maybe soon!

-Belinda

p.s. Has anyone else noticed a problem/difference in your blogger post page. The only selections I have are to check my spelling.....post a photo and to preview????

Block received

2011-12-19T21:59:00.000-06:00

June, your lovely block arrived at it's new home in Oklahoma today. Thank you!

Blocks received

2011-12-19T19:25:00.002-06:00

Andrew, your blocks came today. Thanks so much!

Only one more set to arrive then I can start to play with layouts!

Scrappy trip block

2011-12-18T08:58:00.000-06:00

Today I received 3 blocks from Kathy, East Canton; Pat, Upland, CA and Rhonda in Missouri City, Texas. Thank you ladies all, the blocks are gorgeous, beautifully stitched and great colours. Thank you for your prompt posting and thoughtfully wrapped parcels. I am going to get a design wall put up sometime this week and will start to play with the blocks I have so far. Seasons greetings to you all. Jo

Lovely Squishy Post

2011-12-18T08:48:00.000-06:00

I came home yesterday to a lovely pile of squishies - thanks to Cathy Ann, Celine, Debra and Kate - your packages have arrived safely.

Thanks to all - and Merry Christmas to everyone on Block Lotto

Benta

Blocks from "Down-Under"

2011-12-17T15:21:00.000-06:00

I have received my Scrappy trips blocks from both Cathy C. and Sue. Thank you Ladies. they look great on the design wall with the rest. Back to my Christmas sewing now...

Poll Results - Quilting in December

2011-12-17T14:29:00.004-06:00

Here's the results of our poll. What's your December quilting project?

Personally, I realized that I've done a little bit of "all of the above" ... and not as much as Block Lotto blog projects as expected–since most of you consistently remind me, if it ain't broke, I don't need to fix it, I'm not feeling too bad about my lack of productivity ... but I DO need to get busy and make some January sample blocks, so that after the holidays, I'll be ready for Block Lotto 2012.

More Trips received

2011-12-16T21:55:00.003-06:00

I have now received all my trip blocks. The latest to arrive were from Pat H and Kelly. Thank you to all who sent blocks to me. Everyone must have been on the ball this month.

Trips coming your way!

2011-12-16T14:57:00.000-06:00

Finally got my blocks in the mail to Ellie and Jo!

Scrappy Trip on Way from San Diego

2011-12-16T03:07:00.001-06:00

I went to post office today and sent my one block to Oklahoma. I'm hoping it will become part of a great quilt!

: )
June
http://quiltquest.blogspot.com/

Received from Liz

2011-12-15T18:49:00.001-06:00

Just received the October blocks from Liz. I love them!! Thank you and Merry Christmas

Janet H